Mechanical Technology November 2015

⎪ Materials handling and minerals processing ⎪

The successful completion of the first two contracts for Vestas can be attributed to a number of factors that include Johnson Crane Hire’s extensive experience in heavy lifts.

A Liebherr 750-ton LG1750 lattice boom truck mount crane lifts the 13 t blades for mounting on the 2.0 MW capacity V90 turbines on an 80 m tower.

experience in heavy lifts; the careful at- tention to detail in the design, testing and implementation stages of the contract; the compilation of a thorough safety file and method statement; and the invest- ment in both fit for purpose cranage and highly skilled operators. Grotius says that preparatory work for the two completed lifting projects was complex, with intricate lift design and planning being the order of the day.

“Since each installation was undertaken in an area chosen for its constant, con- sistent and high-speed winds, we had to carefully calculate the effect of the wind on the lifting of each wind turbine component. Extensive rigging studies and methodologies were required not only for the shipping, but also for the building and installation of the crane. Safety of all on site during the lifts was a primary concern,” he says. q

previous experience on crawler cranes. “Together with the technical team from Liebherr in Germany, we have fully equipped two operators to operate the crane and we are currently training a further operator in a three-week intensive programme. The successful completion of the first two contracts for Vestas can be attributed to a number of factors that include Johnson Crane Hire’s extensive

Mechanical Technology — November 2015

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